Method for progressive jackpot gaming

• US 6,336,859 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2001
• Issued: 01/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Progressive Games Incorporated
• Inventors: Suttle, James P., Jones, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US09/844,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20010024969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 256 Days
• Field of Search: 273/292, 273/274, 273/309, 273/143.R, 463/12, 463/13, 463/20, 463/26-28
• US Class Current: 463/13
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/0017 progressive jackpot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

The method of the present invention generally involves a typical casino or cardroom game modified to include a progressive jackpot component. During the play of a Twenty-One game, for example, in addition to this normal wager, a player will have the option of making an additional wager that becomes part of, and makes the player eligible to win, the progressive jackpot. If the player'"'"'s Twenty-One hand comprises a particular, predetermined arrangement of cards, the player will win all, or part of, the amount showing on the progressive jackpot. This progressive jackpot feature is also adaptable to any other casino or cardroom game such as Draw Poker, Stud Poker, Lo-Ball Poker or Caribbean Stud™ Poker. The apparatus used to practice the present invention comprises a gaming table, such as those used for Twenty-One or poker, modified with the addition of a coin acceptor that is electronically connected to a progressive jackpot meter. When player drops a coin into the coin acceptor, a light is activated at the player'"'"'s location indicating that he is participating in the progressive jackpot component of the game during that hand. AT the same time, a signal from the coin acceptor is sent to the progressive meter to increment the amount shown on the progressive meter. At the conclusion of the play of each hand, the coin acceptor is reset for the next hand. When a player wins all or part of the progressive jackpot, the amount showing on the progressive jackpot meter is reduced by the amount won by the player. Any number of gaming tables can be connected to a single progressive jackpot meter.

Claims

1. A method of including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a table game in which a plurality of players may participate, said jackpot component including at least one progressive amount and at least one non-progressive amount, comprising the steps of:

(a) a player making at least one game wager to participate only in the table game;

(b) the player optionally making at least one jackpot wager to participate in the jackpot component, wherein no portion of said at least one jackpot wager contributes toward the play or winnings of said table game;

(c) playing said table game only after the player has made said game wager and decided whether to optionally make said jackpot wager;

(d) determining whether a player who has made said at least one jackpot wager has won according to a predetermined set of rules; and

(e) paying to said winning player who has made said at least one jackpot wager at least a portion of said at least one progressive amount.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said portion of said progressive amount is predetermined.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said portion of said progressive amount is 100%.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of visibly displaying said progressive amount on a meter positioned in view of the player.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein any progressive amount that is not won on the first game carries over to the next game.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said game comprises a card game.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said card game comprises a casino poker game.

8. The method of claim 7 comprising the additional steps of providing at least one light associated with the player and indicating the making of said at least one jackpot wager by the player by illuminating the at least one light associated with the player making said at least one jackpot wager.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said card game comprises a casino twenty-one game.

10. The method of claim 9 comprising the additional steps of providing at least one light associated with the player and indicating the making of said at least one jackpot wager by the player by illuminating the at least one light associated with the player making said at least one jackpot wager.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said jackpot component includes at least two progressive amounts and at least two non-progressive amounts.

12. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional steps of providing at least one light associated with the player and indicating the making of said at least one jackpot wager by the player by illuminating the at least one light associated with the player making said at least one jackpot wager.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said jackpot component includes at least two non-progressive amounts each having a value determined as a ratio of at least 100 times the amount of said at least one jackpot wager.

14. A method of including a prize component as an additional feature in a casino game in which a plurality of players may participate, said prize component including a plurality of different prizes, at least one of which is a non-progressive amount having a value determined as a ratio of at least 100 times the amount of said prize wager, comprising the steps of:

(a) a player making at least one game wager to participate only in the casino game;

(b) the player optionally making at least one prize wager to participate in the prize component, wherein no portion of said at least one prize wager contributes toward the play or winnings of said casino game;

(c) playing said casino game only after the player has made said at least one game wager and decided whether to optionally make said at least one prize wager;

(d) determining whether a player who has made said at least one prize wager has won according to a predetermined set of rules; and

(e) paying to said winning player who has made said at least one prize wager at least one of said prizes.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said casino game comprises a poker game.

16. The method of claim 14 comprising the additional steps of providing at least one light associated with the player and indicating the making of said at least one prize wager by the player by illuminating the at least one light associated with the player making said at least one prize wager.

17. A method of including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a table card game in which a plurality of players may participate, said jackpot component including at least one progressive jackpot amount, comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing at least one rule by which a player may win said at least one progressive jackpot amount;

(b) affording a player an opportunity to make at least one game wager to participate only in the table card game;

(c) affording the player an opportunity to make at least one jackpot wager to participate in the jackpot component, wherein no portion of said at least one jackpot wager contributes to the play or winnings of said table card game, with steps (a)-(c) performed in any sequence;

(d) after steps (a)-(c), providing a plurality of cards to each player who has made said at least one game wager;

(e) after step (d), determining whether any player who has made said at least one jackpot wager has won according to said at least one rule;

(f) after step (d), settling any said at least one game wager made by any players; and

(g) after step (e), settling any said at least one jackpot wagers made by any players, with steps (f) and (g) performed in any sequence.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said jackpot component includes at least one progressive amount and at least two non-progressive amounts, wherein said establishing step establishes at least one set of rules by which a player may win said at least one progressive amount and said at least two non-progressive amounts, and wherein said determining step determines whether any player who has made said at least one jackpot wager has won according to said at least one set of rules.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said table card game comprises a poker game.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a poker game.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a casino poker game.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein said table card game comprises a twenty-one game.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a twenty-one game.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a casino twenty-one game.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein each of said at least two non-progressive amounts has a value determined as a ratio of at least 100 times the amount of said at least one jackpot wager.

26. The method of claim 17 wherein said table card game comprises a poker game.

27. The method of claim 17 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a poker game.

28. The method of claim 17 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a casino poker game.

29. The method of claim 17 wherein said table card game comprises a twenty-one game.

30. The method of claim 17 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a twenty-one game.

31. The method of claim 17 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a casino twenty-one game.

32. The method of claim 17 wherein said at least one rule includes a determination of whether the plurality of cards provided to the player in step (d) consists of a selected arrangement.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said table card game comprises a poker game.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a poker game.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a casino poker game.

36. The method of claim 32 wherein said table card game comprises a twenty-one game.

37. The method of claim 32 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a twenty-one game.

38. The method of claim 32 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a casino twenty-one game.

39. The method of claim 32 comprising the additional steps prior to step (d) of providing at least one light associated with each player position and indicating the making of said at least one jackpot wager by illuminating the at least one light associated with the location of the player making said at least one jackpot wager.

40. The method of claim 17 comprising the additional steps prior to step (d) of providing at least one light associated with the player and indicating the making of said at least one jackpot wager by the player by illuminating the at least one light associated with the player making said at least one jackpot wager.

41. A method of affording each player who participates in a card game in which a plurality of players in different positions may participate an opportunity to win one of a plurality of prizes in addition to any amounts won in connection with the play of said card game, wherein each of said additional prizes corresponds to one of a plurality of winning arrangements of cards selected before the players receive cards, comprising steps of:

(a) affording a player an opportunity to make at least one game wager to participate only in the card game;

(b) affording the player an opportunity to optionally make at least one prize wager in order to be eligible to win at least one of said additional prizes, wherein said at least one prize wager does not contribute to the play or winnings of said card game;

(c) providing at least one light associated with each player position, with steps (a)-(c) performed in any sequence;

(d) after step (b), indicating the making of said at least one prize wager by the player by illuminating the at least one light associated with the position of the player making said at least one prize wager;

(e) after steps (a)-(d), providing cards to each player who has made said at least one game wager; and

(f) awarding one of said prizes to a player only if the player has been provided cards comprising at least one of said winning arrangements of cards and only if the player opted to make said at least one prize wager.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein said card game comprises a poker game.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein said card game consists essentially of a casino table poker game.

44. The method of claim 41 wherein said card game comprises twenty-one.

45. The method of claim 41 wherein said card game consists essentially of twenty-one.

46. The method of claim 43 wherein said winning arrangements include a royal flush, a straight flush, and four of a kind.

47. The method of claim 41 wherein said winning arrangements include four cards of the same rank and suit.

48. The method of claim 41 wherein the player is awarded a prize in step (f) only if the player has been provided cards consisting of at least one of said winning arrangements of cards.

49. A method of affording each player who participates in a casino table poker card game in which a plurality of players may participate an opportunity to win one of a plurality of prizes in addition to any amounts won in connection with the play of said casino table poker card game, wherein each of said additional prizes corresponds to one of a plurality of winning arrangements of at least three cards selected before the players receive cards, and wherein the corresponding additional prize for a higher ranked poker hand is of greater value than the corresponding additional prize for a lower ranked poker hand, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a gaming table including a plurality of player locations at which players receive cards for playing said casino table poker card game;

(b) affording a player an opportunity to make at least one game wager to participate only in the casino table poker card game;

(c) affording the player an opportunity to optionally make at least one prize wager in order to be eligible to win at least one of said additional prizes, wherein said at least one prize wager does not contribute to the play or winnings of said casino table poker card game, with steps (b) and (c) in any sequence;

(d) electronically recognizing the making of said at least one prize wager at each player location;

(e) after steps (a)-(d), providing cards to each player who has made said at least one game wager until the player achieves a hand consisting of at least three cards; and

(f) awarding one of said prizes to a player only if the player'"'"'s hand comprises at least one of said winning arrangements of at least three cards and only if the player opted to make said at least one prize wager.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein said casino table poker game consists essentially of stud poker.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein said winning arrangements of at least three cards include a royal flush, a straight flush, four of a kind, a full house, a flush, and a straight.

52. A method of affording a player who participates in a table card game an opportunity to win one of a plurality of prizes in addition to any amounts won in connection with the play of said game, wherein each of said additional prizes corresponds to one of a plurality of winning arrangements of cards selected before the player receives cards, comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing at least one set of rules by which the player may win at least one of said additional prizes;

(b) affording a player an opportunity to make at least one game wager to participate only in the table card game;

(c) affording the player an opportunity to make at least one prize wager in order to be eligible to win at least one of said additional prizes, wherein no portion of said at least one prize wager contributes to the play or winnings of said table card game, with steps (a)-(c) performed in any sequence;

(d) after steps (a)-(c), providing a plurality of cards to each player who has made said at least one game wager;

(e) after step (d), determining whether any player who has made said at least one prize wager has won according to said at least one set of rules;

(f) after step (d), settling any said at least one game wagers made by any players; and

(g) after step (e), settling any said at least one prize wagers made by any players, with steps (f) and (g) performed in any sequence.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein said additional prizes include at least one progressive amount and at least two non-progressive amounts, and wherein said establishing step establishes at least one set of rules by which a player may win said at least one progressive amount and said at least two non-progressive amounts.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein said table card game comprises a poker game.

55. The method of claim 53 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a poker game.

56. The method of claim 53 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a casino stud poker game.

57. The method of claim 53 wherein said table card game comprises a twenty-one game.

58. The method of claim 53 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a twenty-one game.

59. The method of claim 53 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a casino twenty-one game.

60. The method of claim 53 comprising the additional steps prior to step (d) of providing at least one light associated with the player and indicating the making of said at least one prize wager by the player by illuminating the at least one light associated with the player making said at least one prize wager.

61. The method of claim 53 wherein each of said at least two non-progressive amounts has a value determined as a ratio of at least 100 times the amount of said at least one prize wager.

62. The method of claim 52 wherein said table card game comprises a poker game.

63. The method of claim 52 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a poker game.

64. The method of claim 52 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a casino stud poker game.

65. The method of claim 52 wherein said table card game comprises a twenty-one game.

66. The method of claim 52 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a twenty-one game.

67. The method of claim 52 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a casino twenty-one game.

68. The method of claim 52 comprising the additional steps prior to step (d) of providing at least one light associated with the player and indicating the making of said at least one prize wager by the player by illuminating the at least one light associated with the player making said at least one prize wager.

69. The method of including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table card game in which a plurality of players may participate, said jackpot component including at least one progressive jackpot amount, comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing at least one rule by which a player may win said at least one progressive jackpot amount;

(b) affording a player an opportunity to make at least one game wager to participate only in the live casino table card game;

(c) affording the player an opportunity to make at least one jackpot wager in order to be eligible to win said at least one progressive jackpot amount, wherein no portion of said at least one jackpot wager contributes to the play or winnings of said live casino table card game, with steps (a)-(c) performed in any sequence;

(d) after steps (a)-(c), providing a plurality of cards to each player who has made said at least one game wager;

(e) after step (d), determining whether any player who has made said at least one jackpot wager has won according to said at least one rule;

(f) after step (d), settling any said at least one game wagers made by any players; and

(g) after step (e), settling any said at least one jackpot wagers made by any players, with steps (f) and (g) performed in any sequence.

70. The method of claim 69 wherein said jackpot component includes at least one progressive amount and at least two non-progressive amounts, wherein said establishing step establishes at least one set of rules by which a player may win said at least one progressive amount and said at least two non-progressive amounts, and wherein said determining step determines whether any player who has made said at least one jackpot wager has won according to said at least one set of rules.

71. The method of claim 70 comprising the additional steps prior to step (d) of providing at least one light associated with each player and indicating the making of said at least one jackpot wager by a player by illuminating the at least one light associated with the player making said at least one jackpot wager.

72. The method of claim 70 wherein each of said at least two non-progressive amounts has a value determined as a ratio of at least 100 times the amount of said at least one jackpot wager.

73. The method of claim 69 wherein said table card game comprises a poker game.

74. The method of claim 69 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a poker game.

75. The method of claim 69 wherein said table card game comprises a Twenty-One game.

76. The method of claim 69 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a Twenty-One game.

77. The method of claim 69 comprising the additional steps prior to step (d) of providing at least one light associated with each player and indicating the making of said at least one jackpot wager by a player by illuminating the at least one light associated with the player making said at least one jackpot wager.

78. The method of claim 69 comprising the additional step after step (c) of increasing said at least one progressive jackpot amount in response to the making of said at least one jackpot wager by a player.

79. The method of claim 78 comprising the additional step prior to step (d) of displaying said at least one progressive jackpot amount on at least one sign viewable by said players.

80. The method of claim 79 wherein said table card game consists essentially of a twenty-one game.

81. The method of claim 80 wherein said at least one rule includes whether the cards provided to each player in step (d) consist of a predetermined arrangement of cards.

82. The method of claim 78 wherein said at least one rule includes whether the cards provided to each player in step (d) consist of a predetermined arrangement of cards.

83. The method of claim 69 comprising the additional step prior to step (d) of displaying said at least one progressive jackpot amount on at least one sign viewable by said players.

84. The method of claim 69 wherein said at least one rule includes whether the cards provided to each player in step (d) consist of a predetermined arrangement of cards.

85. A method of including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a twenty-one casino table card game in which a plurality of players may participate, said jackpot component including at least one progressive jackpot amount, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing at least one gaming table including a plurality of player locations at which players receive cards from a human dealer for playing said game;

(b) establishing at least one rule by which a player may win at least a portion of said progressive jackpot amount if the cards dealt to the player during the game consist of a selected arrangement of cards;

(c) affording a player an opportunity to make at least one game wager to participate only in the game;

(d) affording the player an opportunity to make at least one progressive jackpot wager in order to be eligible to win said at least a portion of said jackpot amount, wherein no portion of said at least one jackpot wager contributes to the play or winnings of said game, with steps (b)-(d) performed in any order;

(e) after step (d), increasing said at least one progressive jackpot amount in response to the making of said at least one jackpot wager;

(f) after step (e) and before step (g), displaying said at least one progressive jackpot amount on at least one sign viewable by at least some of said players;

(g) after steps (a)-(d), dealing by a human dealer a plurality of cards to each player who has made said at least one game wager; and

(h) after step (g), determining whether any player who has made said at least one jackpot wager has been dealt cards consisting of said selected arrangement of cards and awarding to any such player said at least a portion of said progressive jackpot amount.

86. The method of claim 85 wherein said at least a portion of said progressive jackpot amount is 100% of said progressive jackpot amount.

87. The method of claim 85 wherein a plurality of gaming tables are provided in step

(a) and wherein said progressive jackpot amount is displayed on a plurality of signs each located at a corresponding one of said plurality of tables and comprising the additional step of electrically interlinking said plurality of signs such that essentially the same progressive jackpot amount is shown on each sign.

88. The method of claim 86 wherein a plurality of gaming tables are provided in step

(a) and wherein said progressive jackpot amount is displayed on a plurality of signs each located at a corresponding one of said plurality of tables and comprising the additional step of electrically interlinking said plurality of signs such that essentially the same progressive jackpot amount is shown on each sign.